Mexborough and Swinton Times December 14, 1918

Gunner J.T.Cliff
Royal Field Artillery

Gunner JT Cliff, son of Mr and Mrs J.E.Clayton, of Cliff Street, Mexborough, arrived home from seven months captivity this week.

He has been a witness of numerous exhibitions of brutality, being present at the murder in cold blood of a sergeant in his own regiment who because he remonstrated on account of the violence of a German guard, received a bayonet thrust in the back.

Cliff was taken prisoner near St. Quentin during the enemy offensive last, March, and was made to march, without food or drink, a considerable distance to the rear being subject to ill-treatment by German soldiers en route.

He was ultimately transferred to Giessen in Hesse, where he was made to., work in a yard Here the men were shamefully treated, and were repeatedly struck with rifle butts and sticks.

They heard no word concerning the Armistice until November 13, and only then by overhearing a conversation between German workmen upon their request information it was explained to them that the Armistice was a result of a revolution affecting all the belligerent states, in consequence of which all the crowned heads of Europe had abdicated, and were then taking refuge in Holland.

The prisoners continued to work it of November 18, when they “struck.” Three of the battalions of Germans reserves were brought to Giessen to enforce obedience and the resumption of work, the prisoners camp was surrounded by soldiers.

Even this failed to impress the prisoners who had resolutely determined to work no longer. The soldiers were shortly afterwards withdrawn, and the prisoners the following day were released